Wife Murders Husband to Inherit Batman Collection

A year ago, Ben Novack Jr. was found brutally murdered in a hotel suite. On Thursday, federal prosecutors announced the indictment of four people, including Mr. Novack’s wife, for the murder.

Ms. Novack’s motive was greed; she was intent on eliminating her husband in order to receive his family fortune. Mr. Novack’s estate was valued at approximately $6 million at his death and included the world’s second-largest collection of Batman-themed memorabilia.

A struggle over the estate has already developed. In February, a Florida judge named Ms. Novack personal representative of the estate before reversing three days later. He ordered her to post a high bond before becoming personal representative, but she never posted the bond.

Ms. Novack has also sought to gain control of Mr. Novack’s mother’s estate. Mrs. Novack’s death might also have been a murder, and authorities are investigating the issue further.

See Sam Dolnick, Four are Indicted in Suburban N.Y. Hotel Killing, N.Y. Times, July 8, 2010.

Special thanks to Joel Dobris (Professor of Law, UC Davis School of Law) for bringing this to my attention.